Big Lake Wildlife Management Area, Protected wetland area in Franklin, Tensas, and Madison Parish, Louisiana, US
Big Lake Wildlife Management Area spans approximately 19,000 acres of wetlands, forests, and open fields along the Tensas River in northeastern Louisiana. The landscape consists of a mix of different habitats, from dense woodland to open water areas.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries created this protected space between 1983 and 1985 through three separate land purchases. Funding from the Rockefeller Foundation made the establishment of this important conservation area possible.
Hunters and birdwatchers use this area regularly, following strict seasonal rules and zone boundaries that have become part of local outdoor traditions. The landscape has become a valued gathering place for people wanting direct contact with Louisiana's natural world.
The area permits recreational activities like birdwatching and hiking, with special permits required for hunting during certain seasons. Access is easiest from towns in the surrounding parishes.
The Tensas River creates natural boundaries as it flows through the land, dividing different habitats. These water corridors support animal species that thrive in conditions found nowhere else in the region.
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